Yes! Real robot footballers. About 60 teams from around
the world will have their robots kicking off on Tuesday,
30. June, at the Cité des Sciences out at la
Villette - in a dashing companion competition to the Coupe
Mondial '98 playing elsewhere in France at the same
time.

The competition is open to all robots from 4.5 cm to 50
cms in height. There is no apparent age limit. Each team
will be composed of at least three robots and the matches
will last twenty minutes, with two half-times of ten
minutes each.

Except in cases of 'terrible blunders' - such as eating
the goal-posts - the robots will play by themselves without
assistance from their coaches. Wow! Spectators will not
only be able to watch the matches but will also have access
to the training areas, where the robots' coaches will be putting the fine-tuning on their team
members. This should be really jolly, and I doubt if
stadium advertising will be intrusive.

This 'World Cup' is organized by the Computer Lab of
'Paris 6' and the Robot Lab of Paris, which are at the
Université Pierre et Marie Curie and the CNRS has
something to do with it too.

Throughout the month of June, public tea parties will be
held in the idyllic gardens of the Musée de la Vie
Romantique every day except Mondays, from 13:00 to
18:00.

Two young ladies will prepare the goodies by using
secrets learned from their grand-mothers, to the romantic
sounds of fountains bubbling into a pool or something, full
of 'red' fish and there is something about nesting birds as
well.

Even if I don't get all these romantic details - my
dictionary is tired - I have been in this museum's garden
and if there are tea-parties in it, it is a good place for
them to be - it is another bit of 'the country' in
Paris.

Musée de la Vie Romantique
16. rue Chaptal, Paris 9. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, from
10:00 to 17:40. No entry charge for the gardens and the
museum entry is only 17.50 francs. No reservations for the
tea-party necessary; but, Info. Tel.: 01 48 74 95
38.

Neighborhood Party Continues

For the second year running - er - this is the second
time - ah - the 'Festival Onze' is an arrondissement party,
which runs another week, until Sunday, 7. June.

Just about every bar, dancehall, musician, singer,
performer and all the good citizens, have a good, big party
for the duration of the oddly-numbered week. Or is it a
short fortnight?

Okay; so they've got everything: music, theatre, dance,
street stuff, art stuff; stuff in bars, cafés,
bistros, churches, cinemas, in the street, on TV - this
year there are more than 200 'spectacles,' and hundreds
shows put on by nearly a thousand 'artists.'

Altogether, 6 wild days and nights left for the
'Festival Onze' party in the 11th arrondissement. Info.
Tel.: 01 53 27 11 47.

21st Foire Saint-Germain

Although this is only the 21st modern version of a
'Foire' which first took place 822 years ago, you shouldn't
think there is a lot of moss growing on it.

The Foire is centered on the place Saint-Suplice, but
actually takes place in six locations, including the
Odéon theatre. Basically there will be exhibitions,
concerts, and some theatre and dance, plus street
animations.

Within the framework of the whole Foire, there will also
be 'marchés - four in all. There will be antiques
from 4. to 15. June, the 'Marché de la
Poésie' from 18. to 21. June, the 'Marché de
la Bibliophilie' from 23. to 30. June and the
'Journées de la Céramique,' which lasts from
3. to 5. July.

The Foire Saint-Germain - until Sunday, 5. July. Jointly
sponsored by the Mairie of the 6th arrondissement and the
Mairie de Paris. Info. Tel.: 01 43 29 61
04.

Continuing Exhibitions:Exhibition: 'La
Gloire d'Alexandrie'

Apparently, this exhibition is supposed to interest
children or a certain age. It has a lot of underwater items
in it. On show until 26. July at the Petit Palais on the
avenue Winston-Churchill; métro Clemenceau, Paris 8.
Except Mondays, showtimes are 10:00 to 17:40 and until
20:00 on Thursdays. Entry charge is 45 francs and Info.
Tel.: 01 42 65 12 73.

Man Ray - La Photographie
à l'Envers

See the article entitled 'Man Ray in Montparnasse' if
you feel up to it. The exhibition is on show until Monday,
29. June, in the Galeries Nationales of the Grand
Palais.

L'Art au Temps des Rois Maudits

Until Monday, 29. June, in the Galeries Nationales of
the Grand Palais.

Delacroix, les Dernières
Années

Until Monday, 20. July, in the Galeries Nationales of
the Grand Palais.

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Issue 2.22
- 2. June 1997 - This issue featured the columns -
Café Metropole - 'There Goes the Neighborhood -
Again!' and 'Au Bistro' had - 'Long Sentence Asked For
Tapie.' The articles in the issue were 'Elections '97 -
Jospin Leads Left to Stunning Victory' - 'Strolling Down
the Champs-Elysées,' 'Cruising on the Seine in May -
or June' and 'One of the Higher Café Terraces.'
There were two 'Posters of the Week' and Ric's Cartoon of
the Week was called 'Things Go Bump.'